Signaling device



A. C. IKEWILEW. SIGNAUNG DEVICE. ARPupMlom man MAR. 21, 1921.

7W l @Y IREM amnunc. iinrriinrt or son'rn BEND, INDIANA.

sIGNALINe :envien Application led March 21, 1921.` Serial No. 454,092.

To all 'whom it. may conce/Mt.'

. Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. hnrriinn, a citizen of the United States., residing at South Bend, in the county of Saint Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specili-` cation, reference being had to `the accomfeo panying drawings.

rllhis invention relates to signaling devices for automobiles, and more particularly to a device of the semaphore type adapted to give notice to pedestrians and traflic of the intention of the operator of the automobile to which it is attached to alter his course or to stop.` j

n An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character embody` i in `a shiftable semaphore arm which by its shifting brings into view various signaling devices announcing the intention of the operator. j j j .j

A further object of the invention is to pro- .i i vide an improved structure whereby the operation of the arm and the shifting of the signaling devices is obtained. @ther objects and advantages of the 1ntvention will become apparent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purposel ofillustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a signaling device constructed. in accordance with my 1nvention showing in dotted lines thevarious `positions assumed by the arm andthe signals displayed when the arm is 1n such positions;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the operating mechanism for the arm;` i

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view talren through the arm;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 Figure 5 is a section' on the line 5 5 of n Figure 3 Figure 6 is a side elevation of one of the display strips employed;

Figure 7` is a plan view of the casing de-` drical casing, and the numeral l1 a band whereby the casing inaybeattached to the i door of an automobile or other convenient mounting point. The casing 10 is provided with a' reduced flattened extension 12 in which is pivoted for oscillation, an arm 14.

Rotatably mounted within the cylinder is an intei'iorly worm-threaded sleeve 15` embodying an operating handle 16 extending through a slot 17 formed in the casing 10, the "slot being provided with regulating notches 18 so that the operating arm 16 may be retained in adjusted position. Mounted within the sleeve is an exteriorly wormthreaded plunger 19 the threads of which engage with the threads of the sleeve 15, and this plunger is connected with the arm 14 at a point spaced from the pivot point 13 thereof longitudinally of the arm by a link 20, the connection of the link being such as to prevent rotation of the plunger' 19.

It will be noted that the plunger 19, being held against rotation, if the sleeve 15 is rotated through medium of the handle 16 the plunger or piston 19 will be shifted longitudinally of the casing 10 and willcause the arm 14 to oscillate upon the pivot thereof, the degree of oscillation obtained being determined by the amount of rotation being imparted to the sleeve 15. The construction of the threads of the sleeve and piston 19 is preferably such that it requires but a rotation` of the sleeve through 1800 to shift the arm to its extreme position, so that a very slight shifting will sulice to obtain the desired adjustingof the arm.`

The arm 14 embodies spaced walls 21, each provided adjacent the free end of the arm with atransparency covered opening 22. lntermediate the side walls 21 and more par-- ticularlyintern'iediate the transparency openings 22 thereof, is arranged a hollow partition 23 in which is arranged an illuminating element 24 adapted to shine through the openings 22 of the side walls.

Within the arm at the free end thereof are mounted spools 25 and 26, each having rolled thereon an. indicia bearing element 27 which is transparent, the ends of these elements being connected to a common operating wire 28 secured to the flattened extension A12 of the casing 10 ata point well spaced from the pivot point 13 of the arm 14. The spools 25 and 26 are of the automatic rewind type being provided centrally with a coil spring 29, one end of which is secured to the arm 14 and the opposite end of which is secured to the spool. The indicia bearing elements 27 are provided With spaced indicia 8O which are preferably colored some distinctive color.

The operating Wire 28 of the indicia bearing elements 27, being secured to the casing extension 12 at a point -spaced at the pivot point of the arm 14, the oscillation of the arm 14 about its pivot Will have the edect of causing the indicia bearing elements 27 to 'be shifted `longitudinally of the arm so that when the ,arm reaches the lowermost position the lirst of the indicia hearing elements is brought to view and the signal indi Cates, in accordance with the present showing, that the driver intends to turn to the left. Further oscillation oi' the arm to bring.;` the same to a horizontal position causes turther'shifting ofthe indicia bearing elements and at the horizontal position the signal indicates that the operator of the vehicle intends to stop.A Similarly, when the arm is in the extreme elevated position the showing indicates that he intends to turn to the right. Since tWo of' the indicia bea-ring elements 27 are provided, one ot Which extends `uponeach side of the partition 23, the light shining from the illuminating element 24 Within the partition Will render these indicia visible both in front of and behind the vehicle, so that the operators intention will be apparent not only to vehicles in the rear but to vehicles and pedestrians which the vehicle to Which the device it attached is approaehinof.

lFrom the foregoing it is believed to be .obvious that I have constructed an automobile signal which is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the fact that it not only indicates the intention of the operator of the vehicle by the changed position of the arm, but by the changing of the visible indicia. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable oi some change and modilication Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I accordingly do not limit myself to the specific structure hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

lVhat I claim is:

r1. In an automobile signal, an arm mounted for oscillation, means 'tor oscillating said arm, indicia bearing elements mounted \\'ithin said arm and embodying longitudinally spaced indicia, alined openings formed in the side Walls of said arm, and means operated by the oscillation of said arm for shittingr said indicia bearing elements longitudinally to aline the indicia thereof with said openings.

2. ln an automobile signal, an arm pivoted at one end for oscillation, means Alol oscillating said arm, said arm embodying side Walls having alined openings 'formed therein adjacent the iree end thereof, a longitudinally shittable indicia hearing element mounted Within said arm and embodyingr longitudinally spaced indicia, means operated by the oscillation oi said arm in one direction tor shitting said indicia bearing` elements longitiulinally to aline the indicia thereoil with said openings, and means for automatically returning said indicia bearingr element to normal position upon the oscillation of the arm in the opposite direction.

3. In an automobile signal, a support, au arm embodying spaced side Walls pivotally connected with said support, means lor oscil lating said arm, an automatic re-wind spool disposed within said arm at the tree end thereof, an opening formedin the side wall of the arm and indicia bearing elements Wound upon the spool and embodying longitudinally spaced indicia1 and a connection betW en said indicia bearing element and said support at a point spaced from the pivot point of said arm.

ln an automobile signal, a support, an arm pivotally connected with the support and embodying spaced side walls havin;r alined openings formed therein adjacent the endthereof, a partition disposed intermediate said arms, an illuminating clement mounted in the partition, a pair oi' automatic re-Wind spools rotatably mounted in said arm at the y,t'ree end thereof. indicia bearing elements Wound upon said spools and er;- tending to opposite sides of said partition, and a connection between the ends ol' said indicia beariirg` element and said support.

lin testimony whereof l hereunto allix my signature.

ARTHUR C. KEPPLER. 

